Folding machine



Dec. 21 1926. 1,611,837

W. F. LAUTENSCHLAGER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet l LUJLMAMQ'. Kid-Vlad) Dec. 21', 1926.

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W.FF%AUTENSCHLAGER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1mm mrkfmm ma Patented Dec. 21, 1926.

ill li'l'filfi STATES VJlLLIAll/I F. LA'UTENSCHLAGER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO LORENZ MU'TI'IER.

OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLIJlNG MACHINE.

Application filed October 31, 1923.

The invention relates to machines for folding the edges of flexible material and more especially to a folding machine adapted for folding closed Vamps and similar work.

in folding the edge of work in the form of an endless band, such, for instance, as a closed vamp in the shoe manufacturing industry, it is essential that the work should be so positioned in the machine as to avoid straining the edge which interferes with the attainment of perfect work. This is espe cially true of Vamps having narrow throats. In consequence it has been found as practical matter impossible to secure satisfactory folding of closed vamps if the work is folded while in a fiat condition. it has been customary heretofore to use a. folding machine for this class of work having a narrow vvorlcsupportiug arm over the end of which the closed vamp may be hung and folded, the main body of the vamp hanging down- 'ardly in free and unobstructed space under the arm. This method. however, has not been entirely satisfactory, especially for narrow throated Vamps.

in all the folding machines, however, heretofore in use, the work has been presented to the machine from the outside of the end of a single arm or the ends of a double arm, if a double arm machine is used. I have discovered, however, that if the work is presented to the machine from the center thereof, so that the main body of the work lies under the over-hanging arm and is folded in this position that all strain upon the ed 'e even in narrow throated vamps is obviated. The usual construction, however, of folding machines prohibits suea presentation of the work to the machine since the various folding instmunentalities interfere with inserting the work from the center of the machine outwardly toward the folding instrumentalities on the end of the arm or arms of the machine.

One of the important features of my invention consists in providing a folding machine having a goosenecked lower arm, that is. an arm which is curved and having its work supporting end turned inwardly toward the main standard of the machine; an over-hanging arm being provided for Serial No. 671,904.

carrying the driven folding instrumentah ities. This leaves a free and unobstructed space underneath the overhanging arm and between the work support and the main standard of the machine in which the work may lie naturally when being folded.

Another feature of the invention consists in pivotally mounting the work support upon the end of the lower arm so that it may be pivotally dropped when necessary to facilitate the insertion of work beneath the folding instrumentalities carried by the overhanging arm; said work support being so constructed that it is normally in an open ative position, irrespective of the pressure placed upon it, but may be depressed at the will of the operator by convenient means, such as treadle operated, means. This construction permits the work to be easily and expeditiously inserted in position from the center of the machine without effort or loss of time on the part of the operator.

Yet another feature of my invention consists in making the lower arm of the machine detachable in order to permit lower arms of various constructions for doing different classes of work to be mounted in the machine. This is a feature of some importance because it widens the range of the folding machine and permits the same machine with different arms to do all kinds of folding work.

In the drawings my invention is illus trated as applied to a folding machine employing the folding instrum'entalities and the actuating mechanism. shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,399,264, issued to me on December 6, 1921, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the operative end of the machine as viewed from the operators seat; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same looking from left to right in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the lower arm and work support; Fig. 4 is a plan view 'of the work support on an enlarged scale; Fig. 5 is a rear side elevation of the work support and supporting mechanism on an enlarged scale; Fig. 6 is a. bottom plan view of the work support on an enlarged scale; Fig.7 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the operative end of the hammer r fold pressing means; Fig. 8 is an end plan view of the same; Fig.9 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the hammer-turning .means; and Fig. 10 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the manually; operated means for turning the hammer or fold pressing means for folding curves of short radii.

In applying my invention to the machine illustrated and described in the United States Letters Patent issued to me as hereinbefore referred to, I have retained the upper overhanging arm and the driven folding instrumenta'lities and actuating mechanisms carried thereby as shown in said patent with slight modifications in the fold pressing means. The novel features of my invention reside in making the lower arm detachable and in the general form and construction of the lower arm and in the provision of a movable work support. The application of my invention to the particular machine shown is merely for the purpose of illustrating the invention, which is capable of general application to various types of folding machines.

Referring to the drawings, the various parts of the machine shown in the said Letters Patent will first be briefly described, since said Letters Patent may be referrec to for a more complete detailed des 'ription. For convenience in identifying the parts of the patentedconstructionused in the present machine, those parts will herein be given the same reference numerals that appear in the said patent.

The frame of the machine comprises a standard (not shown) having two outwardly extending arms, a lower arm of novel construction to be described in detail hereinafter, and an upper overhanging arm 12. The various driven instrumentalities for performing the folding work and the actuating mechanisms therefor are car "led by the standard and the upper arm. These instrumentalities comprise means for feeding the work in a step-by-step motion, a presser foot for holding'the work upon'the work support between the feeding movements, a fold presser or hammer for pressing down the fold after it has been turned and a slitting device. The fixed folding in strun'ientalities comprising a suitable gauge for the work, an idler roll adapted to cooperate with the feeding -mechanism, and a fold turner or plow for turning over the edge to be folded preparatory to the pressing operation, all of which-are old, are carried bythe work support mounted upon the lower arm of the machine to be hereinafter described.

The feeding mechanism comprises a feedbar 32 and a cooperating feethroll 33. the latter being loosely mounted in the worl:

support by means of a screw and a wash-er 51 and having an obliquely curved periphery. The feed-bar 32 is at its lower end in the form of a foot 55 having teeth to grip the work and is provided with a guide 56 secured thereto by a screw 57 having a guiding foot 58. he presser foot 34 for holding the work between the feeding movements is bent around to engage the work at a point adjacent to the feeding members. The work is fed by what is termed a four-motion feed, that is, the feedfoot descends from its initial starting point to grip the work, then feeds forwardly, then lifts, releasing the work, and then returns to its initial starting position, these movements being accomplished through the instrument-ality of a feed-shaft 60 and a liftshaft 61 mounted in suitable bearings .in the standard and upper arm of the machine, the former imparting a forward and rearward movement of the feed-bar and the latter an upward and downward movement of both the feed-bar and the presser-foot. On the forward end of the feed-shaft 60 is mounted an extension 64 having one end in the form of a split collar 65 secured to the feed-shaft by a screw 66, the other end of the extension being in the form of a housing 67 within which the feed-bar 32 reciprocates. The rocking of the feed-shaft (50 oscillates the housing 67 and imparts the forward and rearward movement of the feed bar 32. Means for rocking the feed-bar and its mode of operation are fully shown and described in the said Letters Patent hereinbef-ore referred to, to which reference may be made.

The up and down movement of the feedbar and presser foot are acclomplished through the following means. Upon the end of the lift-shaft is secured a split collar carrying a short arm 126 pivotally connected to a link 127, the upper end of which is forked to receive loosely a block 128 carried on a pin 129, forming a part of the split collar- 130 fastened to the upper end of the feed-bar 32 by a screw 131. A hood 133 serves as a. buttress for a spring 135 set in the top of the feed-bar to hold the feed-bar in a lowermost position, a washer 136 being arranged between the collar 13) and the feed-bar housing 67. s

The presser-foot is pivoted at 140 on a rod journaled in a portion of the overhanging arm 12 and above the pivot point the resser-foot extends upwardly in the form of a flat finger-piece 14-3 bermitting the presser-fcot to be raised when desired. A spring 1&5 set in an arm 146 forming a part of the arm 12 bears against the ingerpie-3e 14:3 to hold it in a lowermost position. the pressure of the spring being regulated by a screw 14? bearing against one end of the spring and held in adjusted position by lit) a set nut 148. The presser-foot is raised by the lift-shaft at appropriate times through the instrumentality of a lug secured on the collar 125 for engaging an adjustable screw 152 set in the presser-foot finger-piece 14.3, so that the presser-foot is raised by the rocking inov-en'ient of the lift shaft. I

The 3t) and 'lold-tm-ner or plow 31 are both of u. ia'l form and mounted on the work-support; the gago having an upright end 41 for guiding the material and the plow being carried by a flat pie-e 45 secured in position by a screw 46.

The fold-presser or hammer 35 which is novel in form, as will be described hereinafter, is arranged on the lower end of a rod mounted for reciprocation in a bearing 161 on the arm 12. A roclcshaft 165 in bracket 166 and operated from the liftshaft imparts the reciprocatory movement to the rod 160 through the following means. Upon a stud is mounted a bell-crank lever 183 carrying threaded throughthe end of its upper arm a bored screw 185 having a spring 184 adapted to engage the end of the hammer-rod 160. The other end of the bellcrank lever 183 is pivotally connected by pin 186 to a yoke link 187 which in turn is pivot-ally connected to the free end of an arm 188 by a pin 189; the other end of the arm 188 being in the form of a split collar 190 encircling the rock-shaft 165 and being fastened thereto by a screw 191. The link 187 is made up of two yokes arranged at right angles to eacl'irdlier to act as a universal joint between the bell-crank lever 183 and the arm 188. The rocking of the rockshaft 165 through the foregoing imparts a downward motion to the hammer-rod 160 and hammer 35 to press the material it is folded. To return the hammer-rod to a retracted position a spring may be mounted on the rod, bearing at its lower end against the portion 196 of the arm 12 and at its upper end against a split-collar 197 secured by a screw 198 upon the hammerrod 160. (See Fig. 9.)

When curves of small radii are being folded the work is pivoted at a point in front of the hammer and toward the operator in which case the pressing surf ce of the hammer 35 nearer to the operator should be advanced toward the operator in order that the entire fold may be reached and For this reason I hav found it of advantage to form the pressing surface of the hammer as shown in Fig. 8 with a projecting nosr 300 so arranged that when the hammer is turned toward the operator its pre-"sinp surface extended in that direction and covers the entire folded edge on curves of small radii. The hammer is necessarily provided with a cutaway portion 302 wl ich permits the nose of the hammer to be turned into close proximity with the plow and thereby reach the folded edge on sucl curves as it leaves the plow and before the edge has had an opportunity to straighten up.

For turning the hammer whenever necessary and at the will of the operator, means may be provideiil capable of adjustment in order to determine the length of are through which the hammer is turned in order to suit various conditions of work. One form of such D'UUHS is shown in detail in Figure 9, comprising a finger lever 306 fulcrumed on a pin 308 mounted in a yoke 310 secured by a screw 3 L to a portion of the upper arm 12; the finger lever being provided with a lug 314 adapted to engage a cam block 3.16 formed on the split collar 197. A finger screw 320 which is 'threaded. through the lower end of the finger lever 306 and held in adjusted position by a set nut 322 may be used by the operator for depressing the finger piece to turn the hammer-rod and hammer. The finger screw 320 may also be used as stop for hunting the movement of the lever 306 in one direction and a stop 32 1+ held in adjusted position by a set nut 326. may be employed for limiting it in the other direction. By adjusting these two stops 320 and 324 the length of the arc through which the hammer is turned may be regulated to suit various conditions and various classes of work.

A slitting mechanism is shown of substantially the. same construction and mode of operation described in the patent hereinbefore referred to in which 36 designates a knifeblock secured in the work-support by a screw 212 and 37 a knife blade mounted on a knife-bar 213 and secured theretoby a screw 216. The knife-bar is slidably mounted in a block or hearing 217 on the end of the arm 12 and is held against rotation by a guide-rod 219, also slidably mounted in said block 217 and secured by a screw 221 to a cross-bar 222 attached at its other end to the knife-bar 213. The knifeblade is reciprocated at the will of the operator from the rock-shaft 165 through the medium of a short arm 225 fastened on the end of the rock-shaft 165 and pivotally connected by a pin 230 to another short arm 232 which in turn is pivotally connected to a link 234 pivotally connected to the cross-bar 222. At their junction point the arm 232 and link 234 are pivotally connected by an arm 235 to a depending bar 236 fastened at its lower end to a rod 238. .A spring 245 fastened at one end to the lower end of the bar 236 and at its other end to the arm 12 holds the said bar in normal position so that the junc tion pointof the two arms, 232 and 235 and of the link 234 is normally on center with the rock-shaft 165. A stop screw 239 is threaded through the lower end of the arm Cir , ter of the machine.

236 and bears against the arm 12 to permit adjusting the normal position of the arm 236 to securean accurate centerin As stated before, some of the important features of my invention reside in providing a lower arm which is goose necked in form and is detachable. In the drawings, 34:0 designates a lower arm constructed in accordance with my invention, which is arranged in the machine in a preferably horizontal position being curved. rearwardly so as to leave a free and unobstructed space under the overhanging arm and in the cen- This arm may ,be made in skeleton form with supporting ribs 3&2 and is provided on its inner end with a plate 344 and a short shaft 3&6 adapted to lit in a suitable bore in the main standard 347 of the machine and to be secured therein in adjusted position by any suitable fas teningmeans. The form of this arm is such that its outer end is turned inwardly toward the main standard of the machine and upon this end is pivotally mounted a work supporting member comprising a. rectangular frame 348 carrying a plate 350 secured thereto, upon which may be mounted the curved work supporting plate 25. The frame 348 is pivotally mounted upon a short shaft 352 set in bea 'ings 353 on the end of the arm 340. Any suitable means may be provided for supporting the frame 348 in normal operative position which will permit-theframe to be moved pivotally downwardly to permitthe work to be inserted and onesuch means is shown in the drawings comprising two links, 354and 356; the upper of said links being pivotally connected by a'. screw pin 360 to a .lug' 362 formed on the under surface of the work supporting frame 348 and at its lower end to the link 356 by a screw-pin 364:. The lower link is connected at its'lower end by a screw-pin 366 to the end of a depending bracket 368 formed on the end of the arm 340 and is provided with a lateral extension 370 so that it is substantially in .the form of a bell-crank lever; the end of the extension being pivotally connectediby a screwpin 372 to a rod 374 which may be connected at its lowerend to a .foot treadle not shown. The upper link is provided on its lower end with a foot 376 adapted to bear against the upper edge of the extension 370 on the lower link to prevent outward movement or breaking of the two links to the left as shown in Figure 5. These links are so arranged that the junction screwpin 364 is slightly beyond center with respect tothe pins 360 and 366 when the links are innormal position so that pressnreexerted upon the work-support will not cause the links to break. The depression of the foot-treadle and rod 37.4 causes the two links to break and the work-supporting frame to drop as shown by broken lines in Figure 5. To return the work-support to a normal operative position when the pressure on the foot treadle is released, a helical spring 380 may be mounted on the rod 374 abutting at its lowerenda bracket and at its upper end a collar 38 i held in adjusted position by a set-screw 386. The spring is under sufficient compression to return the work-support to normal position automatically when the treadle is released.

In Figure 10 is shown an alternative form of arm 390 having its longitudinal axis in a vertical plane.

The operation of the machine so far as the folding instrumentalities are concerned is substantially the same as in the machine of the patent hereinbefore referred to with the exception of such improved results as may be secured by the modified form of foldpressing means herein shown. In folding work in the form of an endless bank such as a closed vamp, the work is presented to the machine from the inside; that is, from a point between the work-support and the main standard of the machine. In such case the operator depresses the foot-treadle thereby dropping the work-support, then places the work in position on the work support and releases the treadle whereupon the spring forces the work-support back to normal position and the machine may then be started on the folding operation.

In presenting the work in this manner, the main body of the work lies in the clear unobstructed space under the overhanging arm between the work-support and the main standard and assumes a natural position which does not strain the edges which have been and are being folded. I have found that closed Vamps can be folded to much better advantage and better results can be secured when the vamp is thus presented to the machine. I have also found that the work is fed through the machine with greater ease and facility when thus presented.

Although the illustrated embodiment of my invention is designed with special reference to folding closed Vamps, it is to be observed that it may also be employed for other kinds of work. In the general run of fiat work, it may be used in, the ordinary manner, the work being presented to the machine from the outside in the ordinary manner, in which case, it is unnecessary to drop the work-support.

It is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific construction herein shown and described nor to the particular folding machine shown since the foregoing is merely illustrative of the invention and its application and it is capable of embodiment in other forms of construction and of application to folding machines iii.)

lit)

lfiil of other constructions all within the purview of the following claims.

That I claim is:--

1. A folding machine having in combination a frame nrovided with an overhanging arm and a lower arm, said lower arm being curved longitudinally to leave a free and unobstructed space under the main portion of said overhanging arm to permit work to be inserted from the center of the machine and to be moved freely in said space, a work support pivotally mounted on the end of said lower arm facing inwardly and adapted to be dropped to permit said work to be inserted, fold turning means carried by said work support and feeding and fold pressing means carried by said overhangingarm.

2. A folding machine having in combination a frame provided with a projecting arm curved longitudinally to leave a free and unobstructed space between its end and the frame of the machine for the insertion and handling of work, a work support pivotally mounted on the end of said arm facing inwardly and adapted to be dropped to facilitate the introduction of said work, fold turning means carried by said work support, an overhanging arm having its end adjacent to the end of said projecting arm and feeding and fold pressing means carried by said overhangin arm.

3. A folding machine having in combination a frame provided with a lower arm and an upper overhanging arm, said lower arm being curved longitudinally to leave a free space under the main portion of said overhanging arm for the insertion of work from the center of the machine, a work support pivotally mounted on the end of said lower arm and extending inwardly and normally in operative position and means within the control of the operator for pivotally moving said work support to permit the insertion of work from the center of the machine.

41;. A folding machine having in combination an upper overhanging arm, a lower arm having its longitudinal axis approximately in the form of a semi-circle to leave a clearance space under said upper arm, the ends of the two arms being in juxtaposition, a work-plate pivotally mounted on the end of said lower arm and extending inwardly to ward the center of the machine, and means for depressing said work-plate pivotally to permit work to be inserted from said center.

5, A folding machine having in combinetion an upper overhanging arm and a lower curved arm, the longitudinal axis of said lower arm being in the form of a semi-circle, in order to leave a clear and unobstructed space in the center. of the machine and under said overhanging arm, the ends of said two arms being arranged in juxtaposition, a work-support pivotally mounted on the end of said lower arm and extending inwardly toward the center of the machine, means for holding said work-support nor mally in operativeposition, means for depressing said work-support pivotally at the will of theoperator to permit work to be inserted from the center of the machine.

6. In a folding machine, the combination of an overhanging arm,feed and fold pressing means carried by said arm leaving a free and unobstructed space under said overhanging arm, a goose-neck lower arm, a work support pivotally mounted on, said lower arm and extending inwardly, folding means carried by said work support and treadle operated means for lowering said work support to permit work to be inserted and re moved from the center of the machine and automatic means for returning said pivotally mounted work support to normal position when the pressure upon said treadle operated means is relieve 7. A folding machine having in combination, a goose-neck arm, a work support pivotally mounted on said arm, an overhanging arm, feeding and fold pressing means carried by said overhanging arm, fold turning means mounted upon said work support and means within the control of the operator for moving said work support pivotally away from said feeding and fold pressing means in order to permit work to be inserted therebetween.

8. A folding machine having, in combina tion, a frame, including a lower arm and an upper arm, the ends of said two arms being adjacent and said lower arm being curved outwardly from the central axis of said frame in order to permit work to be placed within the curve of said lower arm and underneath said overhanging arm, a work support carried by said lower arm folding means mounted upon said work support and feeding and fold turning means mounted upon said upper arm.

9. A folding machine having, in combination, a frame including a lower horizontal arm and an upper arm, the ends of said two arms being adjacent and said lower arm being curved outwardly from the central axis of said frame in order to permit work to be placed within the curve of said lower arm and underneathsaid overhanging arm, and a work support pivotallymounted on the end of said lower arm and extending inwardly toward the center of the machine.

10. A folding machine having, in combination, a frame including a lower arm and an upper arm, the ends of said two arms be ing adjacent and said lower arm being curved outwardly from the central axis of said frame in order to permit work to be placed within the curve of said lower arm and underneath said overhanging arm, feeding and fold pressing means carried by said upper arm, a work support pivotally mount:

ed on' the lower end of said arm and extending inwardly toward the center of the machine, and means within the control of the operator for moving said work support pivotally away from thefeeding and fold pressing means in order to permit work to be inserted therebetween.

11. A folding machine having, in combination, a main frame, provided with an upper overhanging arm and a lower gooseneck arm, the ends of said arms being in close proximity to each other, and a worksupport 'pivotally mounted on the end of said lower arm and extending inwardly toward the center of the machine.

12. A folding machine havii'ig, in combination, a main frame, provided with an upper overhanging arm and a lower gooseneck arm, said lower arm being detachable from said frame, and a work-support pivotally mounted on the end of said lower arm and extending inwardly toward. the center of the machine;

13. A folding machine having, in combination, a main frame provided with an upper overhanging arm and a lower gooseneck arm said lower arm being adjustably and detachably mounted in said frame and a work-support carried by said lower arm and extending inwardly toward the center of the machine.

14. A folding machine having, in combination", a frameprovidecl with an overhangi-ng arm and a lower goose-neck arm, a worksupport pivotally mounted on the end of said lower arm and extending inwardly toward the center of the machine, a pair of links for supporting said work-support in a normal operative position and means for breakingsaid links at their junction point at the will of the operator to depress said work-s1ipport.

15. A folding machine having in combination a main frame comprising a standard, an upper overhanging arm and a lower arm having its main longitudinal axis curved and its end turned'reversely toward the said standard of the frame, a work-support pivotally mounted on the end of said lower arm and extending toward said standard, folding instrumentalities mounted on said work support and on the lower end of said overhanging arm for co operative action. a pair of links for supporting said work-support in normal operative position and treadle operated means for breaking said links at their junction point at the will of the operator to depress said elk-support and allow work to be mounted thereon.

16. A folding machine having, in combination, a frame provided with an upper overhanging arm anda lower arm curved longitudinally to leave a free and. unobstructed space between its end and the frame of the machine for the insertion and handling of work, a work support pivotally mounted on the end of said lower arm and extending inwardly toward the center of the machine, a pair of links for supporting the free end of the said work support in op erative position, treadle operated means for breaking said links at their junction poin to drop pivotally said work support to permit the insertion of the work and a spring for returning said work support to normal position whenever the pressure on said treadle is released.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of October, 1923.

WILLIAM F. LAUTENSCHLAGER. 

